Feudlings by Wendy Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

should not have to pretend they aren’t just for modesty’s sake. I sure don’t.” Nevaeh threw her that big infectious grin.
    Ari couldn’t help but smile back, although she tried a little not to. The noise in the room started up again, gaining in pitch as everyone forgot about her. That was new, too.
    “Ari, this is Hunter Millen. One of your knights in shining armor,” Nevaeh said as she leaned back in her seat, balancing on two chair legs so Ari could see around her to the boy on Nevaeh’s left. He had dark brown hair cropped close, golden brown eyes, a square jaw, and he was huge. He looked more like a football linebacker with his wide shoulders and broad chest.
    “Hi,” Ari said.
    “So you’re Ari?” Hunter leaned forward to study her with intense gold eyes.
    Ari frowned. “Last time I checked.”
    “Where ya from?” Hunter had a drawl that Ari would guess meant he was from Texas. She’d gone to school there once, in Houston, for six months. Her grandfather had pulled her out when Ari had discovered it was a Mecca of some sort for young Carules. Then her grandfather had sent in a team to ‘take care’ of them all. Ari had refused to go.
    Realizing that the whole room was waiting for her to answer, she blinked and focused on Hunter again. “Pennsylvania.”
    “What part?”
    “Pittsburg.”
    “Pittsburg? Why there?”
    Ari was annoyed. “Because that’s where my parents lived when I was born.”
    “Good grief, Hunter, are you interviewing her for the school newspaper or what?” Nevaeh answered with an embarrassed laugh, giving him an odd look. Maybe it’s a secret code for ‘chill out, you freak’, Ari mused.
    A girl sitting in front of Nevaeh leaned toward Ari. “I love your highlights. Where do you get them?”
    Ari tipped her head sideways, fingering a bright red strand absently. “My mom.”
    “Your mom did them?! That’s amazing! What is she, like a hairstylist or something? Do you think she could do mine?” the girl asked, pulling her blonde hair forward as if Ari could make highlights magically appear.
    Ari raised her eyebrows. “Yeah, umm… she doesn’t take new clients. Sorry.” The girl’s face fell and Ari felt like she should say something to make her feel better, but was lost as to what. Honesty and sarcasm were her specialties. Being nice was not.
    “Oh but Emma, your hair is gorgeous enough already. Sometimes you can ruin it with all that goin’ on.” Nevaeh said, rescuing the situation. Ari threw her a grateful smile.
    “Where is your mom? Still in Pittsburg?” Hunter interrupted.
    “New York. And yours? I’m assuming you know where your mother is at all times whether you live in the same state or not, since you obviously expect me to,” Ari snapped.
    Hunter sat back in surprise.
    “Not used to somebody talkin’ to you like that, are ya Hunter?” Nevaeh asked with a smirk as Hunter struggled with a response, hidden fury racing across his eyes. “See, Hunter’s kind of the strong, silent, frightening type. People don’t feel comfortable snapping at him,” Nev informed Ari, clearly amused.
    Ari didn’t break Hunter’s gaze. “I’ve met worse.”
    This seemed to interest Hunter and he sat forward again, his scowl deepening. “When?”
    Ari shook her head and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “I’ve been the new kid more times than you can count, cowboy. I’m used to bullies like you and I hate to ruin your day but sorry, you don’t scare me.” She could feel red sparks itching at her fingertips, pleading to be set free.
    Luckily, the teacher walked in just then, and Nevaeh sat forward in her seat, looking over at Hunter uncomfortably as she tried to block Ari from his glare. He ignored her, instead studying Ari for several seconds before leaning around Nevaeh to catch Ari’s eyes. “One more question,” he whispered. Ari glanced at him out of the corner of her eye but said nothing. “Are you a football fan?”
    Surprised, Ari turned to